Stopping mechanism for knitting machines and more particularly for twocylinder circular knitting machines



y 1962 v. HANZL ETAL 3,043,122

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND MORE PARTICULARLY FORTWO-CYLINDER CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQRS July 10, 1962 v. HANZL ETAL 3,04

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND MORE PARTICULARLY FORTWO-CYLINDER CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR; had/burfianj/ .7030) BY 01/1 3 Sheets-Sheet; 3

V. HANZL ET AL STOPPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES CIRCULARKNITTING MACHINES July 10, 1962 Filed June 12, 1959 3,043,122 STOPPINGRECHANISM FOR lNG MA- CHINES AND MORE PARTICULARLY FGR TWO- CYLINDER-vCIRCULAR KNIT'IHNG MACS Vladimir Hanzl, Trehic-Borovina, and JosefMater,

Trebic-Podklasteri, Czechoslovakia, assignors to Sdruzeni podnikutextilniho strojirenstvi, Chrastava, Czechosiovakia Filed June 12, 1959,Ser. No. 819,844 6 Claims. (Cl. 66-157) .The present invention relatesto a stop motion mechanism for knitting machines, and more particularlyfor double cylinder circular knitting machines, employing an electriccircuit breaker which interrupts the circuit of the driving motor bymeans of a contactor, the circuit breaker being actuated mechanically bysensing means such as a detector acted upon by the needles of themachine.

In a known stop motion device used with a double cylinder knittingmachine the latter is stopped, when a defect of any needle occurs orwhen yarn loads the needles. The stoppage is initiated by lateraldeflection of a detector feeler which shifts a drive belt to an idlepulley.

It is a drawback of this mechanical stopping device that the timerequired for shifting the belt to the idle pulley is relatively long sothat upon failure of a needle the needle cylinder still moves throughseveral revolutions before the machine comes to a standstill. If athread breaks, the needles do not receive thread, so that either theknitted work falls off the needles or the needle latches are closed andmay be damaged by the sliders during the transfer of needles from onecylinder to the other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means permitting acircular knitting machine to be stopped substantially instantaneouslyupon failure of the needle latches to close or upon accumulation ofmaterial on the latch needles.

Essentially, the stop motion arrangement of the invention consists of afixed contact member mounted on the knitting machine frame and a movablecontact member which is reciprocable between a position of conductivecontact with the fixed member and an inoperative position. A contactactuator member is movable between first, second, and third consecutivepositions and is connected to the movable contact member by engagingmeans which move the movable contact member from one of its positions tothe other when the actuating member moves from its second to its thirdposition, but which are inoperative when the actuating member is betweenits first and second position. The stop motion arrangement of theinvention is further equipped with sensing means which are moved by anopen knitting machine latch and the like in a certain direction, and aremoved back again by resetting means. The sensing means are connected tothe contact actuator member in such a mannor that the actuator member ismoved toward its third position when the sensing means are moved by anopen latch needle, and toward its first position when the sensing meansare being reset.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will be readily apparent from consideration of thefollowing specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a knitting machine equippedwith a stop motion device of the inven- FIG. 5 is a side elevationalsectional view of a portion 5 of the apparatus of FIG. 4 taken on theline VV;

FIG. 6 shows elements of the device of FIG. 5 in another position; andFIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of the stop motion device of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG.

. 1, there is shown a basically conventional double cylinder knittingmachine with axially aligned cylinders and with double-ended needlesindependently movable and transferable between the two cylinders. Themachine has only been shown to the extent necessary to explain themounting of the stop motion device of the invention and its cooperationwith the other elements of the knitting machine.

The stop motion device consists of a mechanical detecting device, aswitch or circuit breaker actuated by the detecting device, and anelectrical circuit connecting the switch with the drive of the knittingmachine.

The mechanical detecting device for open needle latches comprises asensing finger 21 which is in position for contact with open latches ofthe rotating needles 22. The sensing finger 21 is secured in a holder 23on a vertical shaft 24, the upper end of which is rotatable on thepointed tip of a screw 25 secured by a bracket 26 to an upper bed plateof the knitting machine (not shown). The lower end of the vertical shaft24 is rotatably supported on an intermediate bed plate 27.

Mounted on the shaft 24 is an arm 28 provided with a notch 29 which isnormally engaged by a detent 30 on one arm of a lever 31. The lever ismounted for rocking movement on a pivot 32 fastened to the intermediatebed plate 27. The engagement of the detent 30 with the notch 29 issecured by a tension spring 33 which is stretched between a hook 34 onthe arm 28 and a hook 35 on the intermediate bed plate 27. The other armof the lever 31 abuts against the top end of a vertical rod 36 which isslidably mounted in the intermediate bed plate 27 and in a lower bedplate 20. The rod 36 carries at its top end a sleeve 37 with a conicaltaper 38 which is in'contact with the free end of the lever 31. Apressure spring 39 fitted on the rod 36 bears with its lower end againstthe lower bed plate 20, its upper end bearing against an adjustablecollar 40, which is secured to the rod 36. A stop collar 4-1 isadjustably fixed to the rod 36 below the bed plate 20. An adjustablecollar 42 secured to the lower end of the rod 36 cooperates with therounded tip of a lever 43, which is mounted for rocking movement on apivot 44 fastened on the frame 45 of the machine.

By means of a link 46 one end of which is hinged to a I pivot 47 of thelever 4? and the other end of which is mounted on a pivot 48, the lever43 is connected to an arresting lever 49, which is mounted for rockingmotion 3 mounted in the frame '45 of the machine. The rod 52 forms partof a belt shift mechanism, not otherwise shown. It is provided at oneend with an abutment sleeve 53 and is connected at its other end to ashifting lever and fork of the belt drive (not shown) of the knittingmachine;

A bracket 19 on the lower bed plate 20 carries the housing 1 of-theswitch of the stop motion device. An actuating lever 18 projects fromthe housing for engagement with the stop collar 41.

The switch is seen in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 6. The housing 1 whichis made of insulating material is closed by a transparent cover 16fastened by screws 17 which permits inspection of the working parts ofthe switch without disassembly. These parts are mounted on a pm 2rotatably supported in the cover 16 and the bottom wall of thehousing 1. The actuating lever 18 is fixedly fastened on the pin- Thepin 2 carries two axially juxtaposed blocks 3 and 9 having. respectiveaxial engageable projections 4 and 10. The block 3 is rotatable on thepin 2. Its projection 4 has an abutment'face 4' in an axial planepassing through .a diameter of the pin 2. The projection 10 of the block9 has two axially and radially extending faces 10', ,10" at right anglesto each other. The block 9 is fastened to the pin 2 and is rotatabletherewith relative to the block 3 through an angle of 90 betweenrespective positions of abutment of the faces 10 and 10" against theabutment face 4' of the block 3.

4A leaf spring 5 which constitutes the movable contact member of theswitch is fastened to the block 3. Its two ends project beyond the block3. One of the ends is arcuately bent for abutting engagement with a pin6 mountedin the bottom wall of the housing 1 whereby thecounterclockwise rotation of the block 3, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, 5,and 6, islimited. The other end of the spring 5 is bent at rightanglesgand serves as an attachment for a tension spring 7. The other endof the spring is hooked into an opening in a washers fastened to asidewall of the housing 1 by a bolt 13 which. simultaneously serves as abinding post for connecting the move: ablecontact member 5 into thestop-motion circuit. The spring 7 urges the movable contact member intoengagement withthe pin Gas shown in FIG. 2. V

The block 9 is urged to move clockwise about the axis of the pin 2 by atension spring 11 fastened to the block 9 by a screw 12 and also hookedinto an opening of thewasher 8. The spring 11 urges 'the block 9 intoabutting engagement ofthe face of the axial projection 10 with theabutment face 4- of the block 3.

The vertical movement of the rod 36 in an upward direction from theposition shown in FIG. 2 causes the stop collar 41 to tilt the actuatinglever 18 clockwise, as

seeniin FIG. 2, and thereby also to rotate the block 3 withvthe movablecontactmember 5. The fixed contact member of the switch is a leaf spring14 held to a side wall of the housing 1 by a second binding post 15. Inthe position of the switch illustrated in FIG. 2 the contact members 5and Marc spaced fi om each other a distance x, and the switch is open.When the stop collar 4-1 tilts the lever 18, the contact members 5, 14make contact and the switch is closed.

The wiring diagram of the stop motion arrangement is shown in FIG. 7which shows a three-phase alternating current supply equipped with fourconductors 70, 71, 72, and .73 for energizing the'drive motor '63-of theknitting machine of FIG. 1 which is controlled by a magnetic contactor64. A step-down transformer 65 connected to the conductors 71 and 72provides low voltage alternatirig current for a relay 59.

Therelay 74 has two sets of contacts 55-56, and

"6061.' The, former set is arranged in series with the secondaryterminals 54, 59 of the transformer 65, the binding posts 13 and 15, andthe terminals 57 and 58 of the coil actuating the relay 59. The secondset 60 61 is arranged in series with the coil of the electric contactor64 between the conductors 71 and 72. The relay 59 may be reset by a pushbutton 67 to close both sets of contacts. As shown in FIG. 7, allcontacts are open for the sake of ciearer illustration. This position isnormally assumed by the circuit elements prior to knitting.

The afore-described apparatus operates as follows:

To start the knitting operation, the button 67 is pressed, therebyclosing both sets of contacts of the relay 59. The contactor 64 isenergized and closes the circuit of the motor 63. The closing of thecontacts and 56 is without consequence since the low-voltage circuit isopen between the binding posts 13 and 15. 7

When an open needle or an accumulation of material strikes the sensingfinger 21 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, the arm 28 is movedin the same direction about the axis of the vertical shaft 24, andreleases the detent 39, permitting the spring 39 to displace the rod 36in an upward direction without hindrance by the engagement of the lever31 with the conical taper 38 of the sleeve 37. The stop collar 41 moveswith the rod 36. It tilts the lever 18 from the position shown in FIG 2into that of FIG. 3 and finally moves upward out of reach of the-lever18 which then is returned to the position of FIG. 2 by the tensionspring 7.

During the brief period in which causes contact between the leaf springs5 and 14, as seen in FIG. 3, the relay 59 is energized and both sets ofits contacts areopened. The contactor 64 reverts to its normal openposition. Opening of the contacts 55, 56 interrupts the low voltagecircuit and keeps it open until the relay 59 is manually reset. When thelever 18 is returned to the position of FIG. 2, the connection betweenthe binding posts 13, 15 isgbroken and the condition of the circuitshown in FIG. 7 is restored.

The upward movement ofvthe rod 36 also causes the adjustable collar topivot the lever 43 on the pivot 44 whereby the .arresting lever 49 ismoved out of the notch 51 on the control rod 52. A spring (not shown)axially moves the rod until the sleeve 53 abuts against the lever 49.The control rod 52 is an element of a conventional belt controlmechanism, not otherwise shown. When the sleeve moves toward the lever49, a drive belt of the knitting machine is .moved by a belt guidemounted on the rod from a fast pulley to a slow pulley of a transmissionarrangement interposed between the electric motor 63 and the knittingmachine. Any residual rotary energy 'of the knitting machine and of thedeenergized motor is dissipated by the sudden change in the transmissionratio, and the needle cylinder of the machine barely moves beyond theposition in which the defective needle was sensed by the finger 21.

If so desired, the belt may further be shifted manually to an idlepulley, and necessary repairs or adjustments may then be made in theneedles 22.

To restart the machine, the motor 63 is energized by pressing the button67. The belt (not shown) is shifted from the idle pulley to thefull-speed pulley and the arresting lever 52 is engaged in the notch 51of the control rod 52-. The resulting downward movement of the rod 36and of the stop collar 41 deflects the lever 18 downward into theposition shown in phantom View in FIG, 6 without moving the movablecontact member 5. After passage of the collar 41 downward into theoriginal position of FIG. 2, the lever 18 returns into the same positionunder the urging of the spring 11.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it isintended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of theinvention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention setforth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a stop motion arrangement for a knitting machine having latchneedles, a support; a fixed contact member tilting of the lever on saidsupport; a movable cont-act member reciprocable between a position ofconductive contact with said fixed contact member and an inoperativeposition; a contact actuator member on said support movable from a firstto a second, and thence to a third position; engaging means on saidmovable contact member and on said actuator member engageable for movingsaid movable contact member from one position to the other positionthereof when said actuating member moves from the second to the thirdposition thereof, and out of engagement when said actuating member ispositioned between said first and said second positions thereof; sensingmeans movable in one direction responsive to an open latch of saidknitting machine; and resetting means for moving said sensing means in adirection opposite to said one direction, said sensing means beingconnected to said contact actuator member for moving the same in adirection toward said third position when said sensing means moves insaid one direction, and for moving said actuating member in 'a directiontoward said first position when said sensing means moves in the oppositedirection.

2. In a stop motion arrangement for a knitting machine having latchneedles, a support; a fixed contact member on said support; a movablecontact member reciprocable between a position of conductive contactwith said fixed con-tact member and an inoperative position; a contactactuator member on said support movable from a first to a second, andthence to a third position; engaging means on said movable contactmember and on said actuator member engageable for moving said movablecontact member from one position to the other position thereof when saidactuating member moves from the second to the third position thereof,and out of engagement when said actuating member is positioned betweensaid first and said second positions thereof; resilient meanspermanently urging said contact member into said one position and saidactuating member into said second position; sensing means movable in onedirection responsive to an open latch of said knitting machine; andresetting means for moving said sensing means in a direction opposite tosaid one direction, said sensing means being connected to said contactactuator member for moving the same from said second toward said thirdposition when said sensing means moves in said one direction, and formoving said actuating member from said second toward said first positionwhen said sensing means moves in the opposite. direction.

3. In a stop motion arrangement for a knitting machine having latchneedles, a support; a fixed contact member on said support; a movablecontact member reciprocable between a position of conductive contactwith said fixed contact member and an inoperative position; a contactactuator member on said support movable from a first to a second, andthence to a third position; engaging means on said movable contactmember and on said actuator member engageable for moving said movablecontact member from said inoperative position .to said contact positionthereof when said actuating member moves from the second to the thirdposition thereof, and out of engagement when said actuating member ispositioned between said first and said second positions thereof; re-

silient means permanently urging said contact member,

into said inoperative position and said actuating member into saidsecond position; sensing means movable in one direction responsive to anopen latch of said knitting machine; and resetting means for moving saidsensing means in a direction opposite to said one direction, saidsensing means being connected to said contact actuator member for movingthe same from said second toward said third position when said sensingmeans moves in said one direction, and for moving said actuating memberfrom said second toward said first position when said sensing meansmoves in the opposite direction.

4. Ina stop motion arrangement for a knitting machine having latchneedles, a support; a fixed contact member out of engagement when saidactuating member is positioned between said first and said secondpositions thereof; resilient means permanently urging said contactmember into said inoperative position and said actuating member intosaid second position; sensing means movable in one direction responsiveto an open latch of said knitting machine; and resetting means formoving said sensing means in a direction opposite to said one direction,said sensing means being connected to said contact actuator member formoving the same from said second toward said third position against therestraint of said resilient means, and then releasing said actuatormember to the urging of said resilient means when said sensing meansmoves in said one direction, and for moving said actuating member fromsaid second toward said first position against the restraint of saidresilient .means, and then releasing said actuator member .to the urgingof said resilient means when said sensing means moves in the oppositedirection.

5. In a stop motion arrangement for a knitting machine having latchneedles and electric drive means, a support; a fixed contact member onsaid support; a movable contact member reciprocable between a positionof conductive contact with said fixed contact member and an inoperativeposition; a contact actuator member on said support movable from a firstto a second, and thence to a third position; engagingmeans on saidmovable contact member and on said actuator member engageable for movingsaid movable contact member from said inoperative position to saidcontact position thereof when said actuating member moves from thesecond to the third position thereof, and out of engagement when saidactuating member is positioned between said first and said secondpositions thereof; resilient means permanently urging said contactmember into said inoperative position and said actuating member intosaid second position; sensing means movable in one direction responsiveto an open la-tch of said knitting machine; resetting means for movingsaid sensing means in a direction opposite to said one direction, saidsensing means being connected to said contact actuator member for movingthe same from said second toward said third position when said sensingmeans moves in said one direction, and for moving said actuating memberfrom said second toward said first position when said sensing meansmoves in the opposite direction; and switch means in circuit with saidcontact members and said electric drive means for deenergizing saiddrive means when said cont act members are in conductive contact.

6. In a stop motion arrangement for a knitting machine having latchneedles, a support; a fixed contact member on said support; a movablecontact member reciprocable between a position of conductive contactwith said fixed contact member and an inoperative position; a contactactuator member on said support movable from a first to a second, andthence to a third position; engaging means on said movable contactmember and on said actuator member engageable for moving said movablecontact member between said inoperative position and said cont actposition thereof when said actuating member moves between the second andthe third position thereof, and out of engagement when said actuatingmember is positioned between said first and said second positionsthereof; resilient means permanently urging said contact member intosaid inoperative position and said actuating member second toward saidfirst position when said sensing means moves in the opposite direction.1

References Qited in the fiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Porteret a1 Jan. 5, 1937 Vossen July 24, 1956 Lunak Oct. 17, 1961

